Carnegie Learning Partners With Miami-Dade County Public Schools in District Reform Initiative

Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Learning, Inc., a publisher of research-based math curricula for middle school and high school students, announced recently that Miami-Dade County Public Schools has expanded implementations of Carnegie Learning's research-based Cognitive Tutor programs as part of the District's continuing effort to improve student performance. Carnegie Learning has been used in Miami-Dade County middle and high schools for several years and, since January 2006, the District has purchased nearly $500,000 of new Bridge to Algebra, Algebra I, and Integrated Math Curriculum Kits for which Carnegie Learning provided professional development services involving 11 schools in the secondary school-reform initiative and three corrective action schools. In total, Carnegie Learning curricula is used in 51 schools throughout the county.

"Our first purchase of the Carnegie Learning curricula was made in 2002 and we subsequently conducted a third-party study that showed the Cognitive Tutor students scoring significantly higher than conventional curriculum students on the FCAT," said Marcus Anglin, District Mathematics Supervisor. "The difference was more pronounced for ESE students, which was particularly important to us. We are seeing both quantitative and qualitative results of the program that indicate our students are more enthusiastic, more engaged, and performing at higher levels using the Carnegie Learning curricula."

Because Carnegie Learning's pedagogy is scientifically based, the curricula are increasingly at the forefront of high school transformation initiatives in large urban area school districts such as Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; Denver; and Chicago, where the curricula are being piloted with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"Our curricula evolve from cognitive science research on how students think, learn, and apply new knowledge in mathematics," said Dr. Steve Ritter, Chief Product Architect for Carnegie Learning. "We use an artificial intelligence model to identify weaknesses in each individual student's mastery of math. This customized approach to understanding each student's conceptual understanding is unique and resonates with students who historically struggle with the abstract nature of higher math."

The Carnegie Learning programs include text and software designed as a full curricula or supplemental programs for middle school and high school students. The suite of Bridge to Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Integrated Math curricula combine software-based, individualized computer lessons with collaborative, real-world problem-solving activities. Students spend approximately 40% of their class time using the software, and the balance of their time engaged in classroom problem-solving activities.

SOURCE: Carnegie Learning